Search

Search for:

Council Appoints Economic Development Director

At the August 16th municipal meeting, council unanimously approved the appointment of Beth Anne Macdonald to the position of Economic Development Director. The new position was created to not only help the municipality attract business but develop a better working relationship with the existing business community.

The vote came after months of numerous public discussions which started in budget workshops in April and continued as a workshop topic during many Mayor & Council meetings. The matter concluded Thursday night with four (4) official related actions, one resolution (227-18) and three ordinances (2540, 2542, and 2543).

Originally from Maplewood, Ms. Macdonald had been the executive director of the Downtown Somerville Alliance since 2012. Records show that her salary started at $60,000 that year and was $78,000 in 2017. Meeting minutes for the Downtown Somerville Alliance are available here (link). Before that, the Hillsborough resident was the executive director of the Springfield Avenue Partnership in Maplewood for nine years. She also ran a boutique toy store named “Wooden You Know” in her hometown and was the senior project manager for Don Smartt & The Community Advocates.

At the August meeting, she was formally introduced to Roselle Park after being appointed by First Ward Councilwoman Jayme Lynn Negron who is the commerce liaison. At the meeting, Ms. Macdonald remarked, “I’m truly honored to be joining the community here. I am so looking forward to my first day and many days going forward, looking to capitalize on the improvements that are planned, the assets that are already here, and getting to know the business community and the residents and certainly the stakeholders that make up Roselle Park. Thank you.”

Plans are being prepared to hold meet & greets with the business community and Roselle Park residents.

Ms. Macdonald will officially start in her position as the Roselle Park Economic Development Director on Tuesday, September 4th, at a salary of $84,000 which is prorated for this year. The hours for the full-time position will be 8:30 a.m. till 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and her office is set to be on the second floor of the Roselle Park Municipal Complex.

A copy of the Roselle Park Economic Development Director’s contract is available below: